Benji

1. jyo_tirmaya

   Feb 11, 2014

   10

   This album puts a stamp on Kozelek's career. I didn't expect that his role as the bass player in the fictional band Stillwater in the 1999This album puts a stamp on Kozelek's career. I didn't expect that his role as the bass player in the fictional band Stillwater in the 1999 movie "Almost Famous" (which I copied onto cassette tape back then) would not be the highlight of his career. Mark Kozelek sings (and plays acoustic guitar) about many of the things we all go through in life. I was especially intent on listening to the song "I Can't Live Without My Mother's Love" because my loving mother died only 6 weeks ago. The rest of the album, as well as that song, practically outlines (intentionally or not) through the soul's sojourn in the material world. Everyone - except maybe a saint - can relate to these true stories in song. They are beautiful songs even when the lyrics turn ugly, overtly sensual or speak of death. Birth, death, disease and old age are the things all of us souls go through in the material world (as one hears about in most George Harrison songs). While listening to these songs, I reflect on what my own life has been like, find parallels, and ironically, they make me think about how to make my life better. Finally, I love the melodies and denseness of this album and how the lone saxophone starts in towards the end of the album as if bringing all of his experiences and emotions into one final symphony. Spellbinding!… Expand

   • 5 of 5 users found this helpful
2. nirvanafreak

   Aug 26, 2015

   10

   It's beautiful and it brought me to tears. I have a feeling this album is gonna be staying with me closely for the next few decades.
   
   That'sIt's beautiful and it brought me to tears. I have a feeling this album is gonna be staying with me closely for the next few decades.
   
   That's enough of a reason to give it a 10 to me.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
4. wfsenior

   Mar 24, 2020

   10

   This is my second favourite album of all time.
   
   My first time hearing a project lead by Mark Kozelek was Sun Kil Moon's album 'Common asThis is my second favourite album of all time.
   
   My first time hearing a project lead by Mark Kozelek was Sun Kil Moon's album 'Common as Light and Love are Red Valleys of Blood', which was released in 2016 - and it fascinated me. It provided intricate storytelling through a combination of singing and spoken word (the latter of which seems to be the artistic directon that Kozelek is heading), so I decided to go back and explore his catalogue... little did I realise how many albums he had released - a vast array of solo studio albums, EP's, live albums, cover albums, compilations, Sun Kil Moon albums (Kozelek's second band), Collaboration Albums (with Jesu, Desert Shore, Jimmy LaVelle and more), and Red House Painter albums (Kozelek's first band).
   
   I began my journey with the 2014 Sun Kil Moon release, 'Benji', expecting another spoken-word infused folk album which implemented experimental sounds inspired by rock and hip-hop. But to my pleasant suprise, what I got was a far more personal, haunting and brutally honest storytelling-based folk album, with a splash of jazz.
   
   Mark Kozelek is probably the best storyteller I have ever heard, with each song tells recounting events, and how they affected him personally. He goes into such depth, recalling details that seem almost unnecessary, yet so essential. These are songs that you have to really listen too, as opposed to just playing in the background - a pair of headphones and dedicated listening time is the best way of approaching 'Benji'.
   
   Thematically this album is dark - somebody dies in nearly every track... most of whom are relatives of Kozelek, friends, or people from his home town... and serial killer Richard Ramirez. The track 'Truck Driver' begins with the lines "My uncle died in a fire on his birthday" which really sums up how jarringly raw and stripped back this album is. The final track, which is the only upbeat song, incorporates jazz as an instrumental break, and perfectly caps off the record on a contrasting high note (though it was originally recorded with a much darker tone).
   
   Told in a fairly soft & monotone, yet captivating voice, atop primarily acoustic guitars, Kozelek handles the production, which is really well done. There is also dark humour to be found, which breaks through the relentless meloncholy, adding to the personality found all over this already highly personal album. The entire project essentially acts as an emotional process to help Mark leave certain thoughts into he past.
   
   Every track is a favourite, but if I had to choose, I would go with: 'Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes' (the drums put you in a trance), 'I love my Dad', 'Dogs' (which recalls Marks first sexual experiences), 'Ben's my Friend' (the upbeat final track) and 'Micheline' (which perfectly sets the mature and depressing tone of the album. In this track, he also makes reference to a film he saw in the cinema as a child entitled 'Benji', which he, of course, subsequently named the album).
   
   The artwork happens to be an image taken by my favourite photographer Nyree Watts, who provides cover art for many of Kozelek's albums. In my opinion there are no negatives to be found on this album, and I recommend it to anybody that is fan of genuine music and is looking for an album to pick apart. The more I listen, the more I hear, still to this day. Even if Kozelek is a reincarnation of Andy Kaufman's character Tony Clifton. 10/10.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
5. JakcsColdSweat

   Sep 28, 2014

   9

   Benji is like an opera where Koselek shows the magnificence of playing beautiful shinny acoustic guitar riffs.
   
   By it´s own part, the albumBenji is like an opera where Koselek shows the magnificence of playing beautiful shinny acoustic guitar riffs.
   
   By it´s own part, the album is pretty, friendly, shinny, but not creative at all, because most of the riffs are most likely the same, but is greatly saved by the lyrics, and all that, gives a great enjoyable album
   
   9.1/10
   
   Best song: Ben´s my friend
   Wickest song: Richard Ramirez Died Today Of Natural Causes… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. IsaacMartinez

   Apr 17, 2014

   9

   This was an interesting listen. Although somewhat inaccessible at times (especially on "Dogs" and "I Watched the Film The Song Remains theThis was an interesting listen. Although somewhat inaccessible at times (especially on "Dogs" and "I Watched the Film The Song Remains the Same") it can be achingly beautiful, with lyrics that are just as deep as they think they are.
   Best Tracks - "Ben's My Friend", "Truck Driver", "Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes", "Dogs"… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
7. adhamhany

   Feb 12, 2014

   8

   This is the first of Mark Kozelek's albums for me to hear, so I didn't know what to expect at first. But i ended up liking what i heard. TheThis is the first of Mark Kozelek's albums for me to hear, so I didn't know what to expect at first. But i ended up liking what i heard. The music is mostly minimal, giving room for the lyrics to shine. They are truly beautiful, as well as heartbreaking.
   
   On the other hand, i wish the album was more like the closing track (Ben's My Friend). That's my favorite track of them all. Great lyrics, accompanied by some of the most terrific music i heard in quite some time. It somewhat reminded me of Kaputt, the 2011 album by Destroyer.
   
   Other tracks i liked: Carissa, I Can't Live Without My Mother's Love, and Jim Wise.
   
   Overall, a very satisfying album, and i'm looking forward to checking out his previous work.… Expand

   • 2 of 2 users found this helpful
8. palkyrocks

   Feb 28, 2014

   0

   I now have a base line for the worst album I have ever heard ... and it's name is Benji by Sun Kil Moon.
   
   The guitar in each song is theI now have a base line for the worst album I have ever heard ... and it's name is Benji by Sun Kil Moon.
   
   The guitar in each song is the same 3 boring, rambling finger picked chords for upwards of 8 minutes. The vocal is the least melodic single note monotone cringeworthy vocal line. The lyrics are the most self indulgent exploration into death I've ever heard. There is one song about how he will be sad if his mum dies and no one is allowed to talk **** about her, another song about how he loves his dad, another song about a couple of mass murders but he somehow makes it about him, a song about his pets
   Dying , an 8 minute song about his 2nd cousin dying - how sad he was even though he admits in the song he has only seen her once in 30 years ... And he didn't talk to her then ... He makes her death about him.… Expand

   • 3 of 25 users found this helpful

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